Cozy Shepherd's Pie with Lentil-Turkey Topping

A wholesome and hearty shepherd's pie, featuring a savory ground turkey and lentil filling topped with creamy mashed sweet potatoes and golden brown perfection.

• Prep: 20 min
• Cook: 35 min
• Total: 55 min
• Servings: 6
• Cuisine: American
• Difficulty: Medium
• Cost: $2.10/serving

Dietary

• High-Fiber
• Gluten-Free
• Nut-Free
• Soy-Free
• Egg-Free
• High-Protein

Tags

• bake
• comfort food
• healthy
• one-pot
• savory

Ingredients

• 3 sweet potatoes (peeled and cubed)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 pound ground turkey
• 1 yellow onion (chopped)
• 2 carrots (peeled and diced)
• 2 celery stalks (diced)
• 3 clove garlic (minced)
• 0.5 cup dried lentils (rinsed)
• 2 cup chicken broth
• 1 can diced tomatoes (undrained)
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 0.75 teaspoon salt
• 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
• 0.25 cup milk (dairy or non-dairy)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Boil the sweet potatoes: Place 3 large cubed sweet potatoes in a large pot and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil and cook for 15-20 minutes, or until very tender. Drain thoroughly. Mash with 1/4 cup milk, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon black pepper until smooth. Set aside.
3. Prepare the filling: Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add 1 pound ground turkey and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned, about 5-7 minutes. Drain any excess fat and set aside.
4. Add 1 chopped yellow onion, 2 diced carrots, and 2 diced celery stalks to the skillet. Cook for 5-7 minutes, until vegetables begin to soften. Add 3 cloves minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
5. Stir in 1/2 cup rinsed dried lentils, 2 cups chicken broth, 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon dried thyme, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 15-20 minutes, or until lentils are tender.
6. Return the cooked ground turkey to the skillet and stir to combine the filling. Spread the turkey-lentil mixture evenly in the skillet.
7. Carefully spoon or spread the mashed sweet potato topping over the turkey-lentil filling. You can create decorative swirls with a fork if desired.
8. Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the filling is bubbling. Let stand for 5-10 minutes before serving.

Notes

For a bit of extra flavor, you can add 1/4 cup of grated Parmesan cheese to the mashed sweet potato topping before baking. Leftovers store wonderfully and reheat well.

Nutrition (per serving)

• Calories: 490
• Protein: 37.5 g
• Carbohydrates: 64 g
• Fat: 12 g
• Fiber: 19.5 g
• Sodium: 890 mg
• Saturated Fat: 3 g
• Sugar: 12 g
• Cholesterol: 78 mg